As a family trying to be thoughtful about what we bring into our home, here's a real list of basket ideas that go beyond candy and plastic that we'd actually tuck in our daughter's Easter basket...
TL;DR:
Thoughtful and sustainable Easter basket ideas that go beyond candy and plastic — including books by age, something that grows, fair trade chocolate, a few no-cost ideas, and one handmade piece that gets carried long after Easter morning.
This is our first Easter where our toddler is old enough to notice. To get excited. To maybe remember.
My husband didn't grow up with Easter baskets — Easter looked completely different in South India, and consumption wasn't part of it at all. I did grow up with them, and I have warm memories wrapped up in all of it. But I also know that slightly deflated feeling when the basket looks full and nothing in it really means anything.
So we're figuring out our own version as a family. What to carry forward, what to let go of, what kind of morning we actually want it to be.
We landed somewhere simple. Not skipping it, but choosing a few thoughtful things that she'll reach for long after Easter morning is over.
You don't need a lot. Simplicity and less is really our approach.
How we're thinking about Easter baskets this year
- Something to use
- Something to create
- Something to enjoy
- Something to keep
Here's my hunch: we don't need to fall into the trap of adding more, just better.
If you’re looking for thoughtful Easter basket ideas that aren’t candy or plastic, this is what we’re considering:
1. A classic book.
One that's been loved for decades and will be again. The kind that gets read so many times the spine gives out. Most are under $10 — or free if your library has a used book sale.
- Under 3: Goodnight Moon, Corduroy, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Dragons Love Tacos
- Ages 4–6: Charlotte's Web, Frog and Toad Are Friends, Where the Wild Things Are, Last Stop on Market Street
- Ages 7–10: The BFG, My Father's Dragon, Stuart Little, The One and Only Ivan
2. Something to draw or make with.
Crayons, a small sketchbook, a set of watercolors. Something that invites a quiet afternoon. Easy to pick up, usually less than $3.
3. A packet of seeds.
Flowers, herbs, something to plant together. Check your local library first — a lot of them have free seed libraries and it's the kind of thing you'd never know about until someone tells you. Usually free!
4. A thrifted something.
A little wooden animal, a vintage puzzle, a tin of marbles, a set of jacks, a ceramic piggy bank, a handmade doll, a vintage children's book you haven't heard of. If you're not already in a Buy Nothing group, this is a good reason to join one — people give away beautiful things and love knowing it's going somewhere good. Usually free.
5. A small treat they love.
Homemade rice krispies, cookies, a good honey — or if you're buying chocolate, Tony's Chocolonely is fair trade, widely available and our absolute favorite.
6. A small wooden toy or puzzle.
Simple, durable, easy to come back to. Look for these at local toy stores or markets — usually $10–$20 and they last for years... even less if you can thrift one or search your local Facebook Marketplace.
7. A good bar of soap.
It feels special and gets used over and over... practical in the best way. A small local maker or farmers market find is usually under $7 and supports your community. (Though TBH: we love to pick ours up from Trader Joe's when gifting.)
8. A note of encouragement.
A blessing or a declaration for the year ahead, a few words about who they are and who they're becoming. What a gift for them to hold onto as they get older. If you're not sure where to start: what do you love about them or what do you hope for them this year? Start there. It doesn't have to be long.
9. A kantha blanket.
Hand-stitched by the women we work with in Bangladesh, it's a small, soft, one-of-a-kind addition they'll keep long after the basket is put away. Our Minis are sized just right for little ones, big enough to wrap around them but small enough to drag everywhere.
We tucked one in our daughter's almost-finished basket this week, and I couldn't stop smiling. They're one of our bestsellers for good reason.
They get loved, carried around, dragged to grandma's, slept with, allll the everyday moments. And no need to worry because they're machine washable, made to last and customers say they get softer with time.
“They’re perfect. We use ours at the kids' soccer games, in the car, everywhere.” — a mom recently shared with me
How about you — what's the most meaningful thing you've ever tucked into a basket or received in one? Childhood memories welcome. :)
P.S. We have a new mini kanthas being added to the shop every month. If you're looking for a soft, meaningful gift — they're here:
Shop Mini Kantha Baby Blankets
Bookmark this for next year. The library seeds, the Buy Nothing finds, the handwritten note — these are things any little people will remember. Worth coming back to!
1 comment
Leave a commentWhat great ideas, mini Kantha throws are the best!